Standing on branded carpets under the branded stars of the brand lights of Star lager beer, Diamonds Band, led by Anthony Iwediunor on Saturday, May 10, won the grand prize of the 2008 Star Quest musical talent hunt.

The bumper prizes, which was presented to them by the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, Mr. Michiel Herkemij, included a N5 million recording contract, N2.1 million cash, a mini van and one-year guaranteed accommodation in Lagos.

In addition, the winning band will also participate as performing artistes in the forthcoming NB-sponsored Star Trek and Star Mega Jam.

Heritage Band led by Christian Amagiya, and Expozee Band, led Emmanuel Aika came second and third, respectively. The star-studded event paraded Nigerian entertainment celebrities including Tee Mac, African China, Bovi Ugboma of the Extended Family, KC Presh, winners of the maiden edition of Star Quest in 2002, Tony Okoroji, prime mover of the Nigerian Music Awards (NMA), Jedi, the well-fed comedian as well as top management members of Nigerian Breweries Plc, brewers of Star lager beer, celebrated youth and music with pomp and ceremony.

The event, which was compered by Gbenga Adeyinka the 1st at the glamorous Expo Hall, Victoria Island, began about 8 p.m. with various engagements. The night sought to capture the brand essence of Star beer, as there was no room for celebration and socialising among guests until 10 p.m. when the programme went live on NTA, AIT, MBI, STV, Galaxy and G65 as well as Hi Nolly on HiTV.

The three bands put up brilliant performances that got the audience dancing and clapping in appreciation. Expozee thrilled the hall with a highlife song that depicted the brand essence of Star lager beer, but the shine went to Diamonds as viewers chose them as their stars.

Other three bands, B-Sixz, led by Godwin Okwi; Next, led by Isaiah Okoh, and Spectrum led by Daniel Ikpeme were evicted early Thursday as viewers votes were not enough to keep them in the competition.

The Star Quest story began in 2002 and the maiden edition produced KC Presh before it went into unannounced break. But in 2006, in a bid to widen the scope of the programme into a celebration of Nigerian music and reinforce the friendship, bonding and sociability platform of the brand, the competition moved from being the celebration of an individual to the celebration of the brand. D'Accord became the first winners of the new format of the competition. In the 2007 edition, D'Jewels carted away the precious Star Quest trophy, and this year Diamonds sang their way into galaxy of stars.

Diamonds were able to ensure that every department of instrumentation essential for creating good music was taken care of. The bandleader, Anthony Nwanne Iwediunor, was in charge of keyboards, Ifiok Effanga was the lead guitarist, Tope Ogunlowo was on bass guitar, and Ebenezer Ofili was on the drums. Petite Ajumoke Nwaeze and Blessed Edewor provided the main vocals.

The battle for the last band standing was very fierce in all fronts, the bands had engaged and challenged themselves in virtually every facet of music. They were into songwriting and composition, arrangements, scoring musical notes and creating different brands of music like Jazz, Naija flavour, rap, R&B, highlife, makossa, juju, fuji, and what have you. The bands even went as far as doing the remix of some works by popular Nigerian artistes and creating various genre of music for ready-made songs.

At least, two university dons sat them down in classrooms to conduct a first class orientation in basic rudiments of music, choreography and stagecraft, as well as engaged them in several exercises for physical fitness and flexibility of the body to enhance good performance as future stars and music ambassadors of Star Quest.

The contestants, no doubt, thrilled television viewers back home with lots of fun, comedy, music, suspense and excitement with their acts and deeds while in Star Fameland. The programme this year was a must watch for millions of television viewers across Africa and music fans across the globe as fans sought to support their favourite bands.

Speaking at the event, Tee Mac said the event was a unique experience provided by Star lager beer. He commended them for sustaining the event over the years and also applauded the quality of time and effort that went into the final ceremony, saying: "This is the way entertainment should be."

Other artistes, who commented on the competition, commended the efforts of the brand in its bid to empower the youth of the nation by discovering and nurturing their creative talents. They used examples of the videos produced for each of the final three bands, which was played live for the audience. According to Gbenga Adeyinka, "some musicians who have been around for years do not have musical videos, but Star has done it for these ones."

KC Presh were especially passionate in their endorsement of the brand and the competition and encouraged Nigerian youths to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the brand to constructively utilise their talents.

The Diamonds Band took to the stage after receiving their prizes and thrilled the audience till the wee hours of the morning, with various songs that showcased the celebration of their victory.